I’m a 19 year old finishing up my first year of college. I often struggle with thinking about how to balance work/studying/doing things for my intended career (getting into medical school) and enjoying my youth (traveling, going out with friends, dating).
So far, I have a solid diet and gym schedule that I’ve been following (3 days per week, every other day), landed a research position at a cancer lab, am on track to finish freshman year with a 3.9+ GPA, and have a group of incredibly nice and incredibly smart/working friends.
I don’t really party and I haven’t dated anyone, although I’ve tried talking to some people I like. I go out with friends maybe 1 time a month for a few hours, like going to town to get some food or to some campus event like a small concert or something.
I have plans to travel with my brothers this summer to Europe or something, although nothing is finalized. For reference, I have never been outside a 200 mi. radius of my hometown for 15+ years.
Should I be doing more? Outside of studying/work, what are some things you recommend I consider doing?
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One thing that I regret was not paying enough attention to my finances while in college. I lived at home throughout my college and I always worked. I tended to work sales oriented jobs where commissions were earned. I did not pay particular attention to my finances, so I spent needlessly. When I *did* want to buy something particularly expensive, it would take a long while before I could make it happen. I also never had the money to take a traditional college spring break trip. Fortunately, I was never in debt, so ultimately that’s all that matters to me now. At that age, you can be dumb financially, just don’t mortgage future you by getting into debt early.
That age my focus was primarily on socializing. That encompasses college, in which I focused on my coursework but not the job aspect of it – I just kinda thought “if I get good grades that’ll be good enough for my next step.” So, in college I kinda regret not focusing more on avenues to careers.
Because I ended up graduating, not figuring out a job, and then working retail while living with my parents. I then moved out with some friends but was still in a dead end job, spending my evenings and weekends drinking heavily. So, a regret there was not really branching out more.
Eventually I did uproot myself and got myself going but it wasn’t until I was around 26.
was easy for me. I worked in mining and was gone for weeks at a time and came home for weeks at a time. While at work I lived in work camps on site and besides the occasional bar or restaurant social life wasn’t spectacular, although there was some unforgettable times.
When I was home I was 100% free to travel or visit friends and meet women.
If I could have done anything different I would have started younger and left that career sooner.
Just lived life. Never worried about it.
Wait…..we’re allowed to have a social life?!?
I’ve prioritized social life and good times over ever work 100 – 0 for my whole life pretty much lol.
I don’t regret it, in the end the friends I made and the memories I’ve made have done more for me and meant more to me in my life than any amount of dedication to work and education, but I’m also not very smart, and I’m pretty lazy, for me it’s a no brainer because my best attempts result in mediocre crap anyway, it’s easy to get by in life as a people person when you don’t have high intelligence or drive for skilled labor.
But for you? I don’t know. You didn’t even really mention what you’re interested in, or what you feel like you’re missing out on, so I wouldn’t even know what to tell you to get out and do lol, maybe stickin to the books is where it’s at for you, if you enjoy it and like your life, why rock the boat?
Do not start partying. I was in the same groove as you and then went travelling for a few year and got into the party lifestyle at age 21. Lost 11 years to drugs and alcohol. Lots of fun for the first year or two but then I was just in a bad loop of rinse and repeat for years.